By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

Robert “Bob” Peabody Jr. is staying put.

Peabody was a finalist for the Boothbay Harbor town manager job, but he was passed over when the selectboard announced Saturday that Julia Latter had been hired.

Latter has worked for the town for the past 22 years, and was acting town manager and finance officer.

The two finalists took part in a Meet & Greet with local residents last Monday and then on Tuesday participated in interviews with department heads and the selectboard.

“As the interview process evolved, it became quite clear to me that Julia was the best fit for our town manager,” said Board chairman Michael Tomko in a Boothbay Register report. “While we were very fortunate to have many qualified applicants, Ms. Latter distinguished herself with a track record of sound financial management and passionate enthusiasm.”

Latter will receive a three-year contract with a starting salary of $87,500.

“Boothbay Harbor has been my lifelong home, it is where I have raised my children, and it is what I have dedicated my professional career to. I look forward to many more years serving the community I love,” Latter said during the Meet & Greet, as reported by the Boothbay Register.

While disappointed about the outcome and a chance to return to a coastal community (the lure of the ocean — as the result of growing up in Bath — was a factor in seeking the job, he previously told The News), Peabody is happy to call Bridgton his home and is ready to roll up his sleeves and see several major projects that are underway to their completion.

Peabody also noted that he looks forward to continuing to work with a talented and dedicated staff — one of the best he’s been associated with in the 20 years of town government work.

“I own property here and look forward to making a positive difference in this community,” he said Tuesday. “Bringing three projects to fruition makes the job worthwhile. Forty years from now, if a grandchild or great-grandchild of mine comes to town, they can see I had a part in what we developed here. I’ve had a supportive board and community behind me to make it happen — they just needed help with a vision they had.”

When news broke that he was a finalist for the Boothbay Harbor manager’s job, Peabody wondered what the response here would be. He was pleasantly surprised by the number of people who expressed a desire for him to stay.

Over the weekend, Peabody and his partner, Karla VanAlstine, were checking out a craft fair held at Windham Christian. A man walked up to him and asked, “Are you Peabody?” He said “yes.” The man told him that he lives in Bridgton, and heard that Peabody was staying on as town manager. The man simply said, “Good.”

Other changes, however, are on the horizon. While infrastructure changes are occurring outside the walls of 1 Chase Street — the municipal complex address — change is also hitting town government.

Two other pieces of the puzzle are in place as the town hired a new Community Development Director, Linda LaCroix, and this past Tuesday night hired David Madsen as Public Service Director (see related story). He replaces longtime Public Works Director Jim Kidder, who retired Friday, Nov. 8.